Elephant Walk (1954)

"Elephant Walk" An "Almost" Epic of Drama & Intrigue!

This sweeping, almost epic film, opens in a quaint little book store in London, England. Colonial tea planter John Wiley (Peter Finch), is visiting England at the end of World War II, and during his visit to the book store, he encounters "love at first sight" with lovely English rose Ruth (Elizabeth Taylor) and after their wedding (which the viewer never sees the courtship or the wedding) he takes her home to Elephant Walk, Ceylon. A vast plantation of beauty and wealth, where the local elephants have a grudge against the plantation house blocking their ritual route to the "elephant graveyard." Ruth's delight with the tropical wealth and luxury of her new home is tempered by isolation as the only white woman in the district. She's challenged by the silently hostile plantation servant Appuhamy (Abraham Sofaer) and the memory of her husband's dead father, who is very much kept alive by constant "toasts" and "traditions," that Ruth notices effects her husband badly and seems to be pulling him away from her! As time goes by, Ruth finds her world spinning into chaos as her husband's occasional imperious arrogance is becoming more resentful and cruel. Ruth finds a mutual physical attraction with plantation manager Dick Carver (Dana Andrews) who see's his friend , John, becoming more distant with Ruth. As Ruth struggles with her emotions "Elephant Walk" is threatened by an outbreak of cholea and by the hovering, ominous menace of the hostile elephants...

Gorgeous photography, sets, and costumes abound in this richly entertaining tale of romance, adventure, and suspense as the viewer is swept into a world of challenging circumstances that is beautifully filmed in glorious technicolor! Each time I watch this film, I am thoroughly entertained and find so many things to like about it! The stage sets of the planatation house are breathtaking! With ivory staircases, ornately carved designs in the walls, ceiling, and doors throughout, with beautifully detailed furnishings. Everything works to accomplish the films overall look as more of an "epic film" than just a two hour melodrama. There's a variety of details and elements to "Elephant Walk" that makes it such an entertaining watch, including- Elizabeth Taylor's gowns by Hollywood costuming legend, Edith Head, are stunning! The mystery of "what's behind the massive locked door?" in the plantation house! The creepy acting servant Appuhamy speaking to John's dead father at his tomb! "Elephant Walk" works on so many levels to bring it's story to an exhilarating finale that you'll want to see it again! Beautifully presented on DVD with a great print and audio! A must own DVD for all classic movie lovers and especially Elizabeth Taylor fans!!
April 4, 2008

Good movie

I remember watching this movie when I was younger and loved it, then!
It just didn't do for me now what it did back then. Still, I'm glad I bought it. It's nice to watch them good ol' classics when you don't have cable:) Besides, they don't make them like they use to! November 9, 2007

A movie I'll never forget...

This is a great movie. So what if it's somewhat of a soap opera? It's actually a lot better than a soap opera to me. After all, how many soaps have rampaging elephants in their finale?

Elizabeth Taylor is stunning in this movie, and her acting looks convincing most of the time. Basically, two men are competing for her, one of them her husband, the other his colleague. Just as Elizabeth's character, Ruth, is about to leave her husband for the other man, a cholera epidemic breaks out, triggered by a drought. That also triggers the elephant stampede that destroys the mansion--while Ruth is still in it. I won't say what happens, but I've never seen a stampede as convincing or scary as this. It's unbelievable.

You have to see this movie. I won't forget it and I'd watch it again. I dare to say you would do the same. June 17, 2007

Ahhh! The elephants are coming!

A long, drawn out melodrama used as a vehicle to showcase Elizabeth Taylor in various, ravishing costumes of dress, each more extravagant than the next is the main ingredient of "Elephant Walk". Oh that, and thousands of natives thrown in doing exotic dances for good measure. Thus, you get an incredibly over the top, but still fairly watchable movie that hasn't stood the test of time well. It's in Technicolor (what else is new?) and follows the story of a young bride taken to her husband's tea plantation in India, where she discovers a different side of her husband than she expected. What is most intriguing (although at times rather humorous) is the idol worship of the husband's deceased father, founder of the plantation. At one point, the natives all bring presents and place them at the grave of the father. And then there's Appuhamy, the creepy little Indian servant, who prays to the grave as if it were a temple. Creepy. Of course, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying "Elephant Walk" is a complete farce. It's interesting, and the viewer is left wanting to know if Ruth will hook up with Carver or stay trapped on Elephant Walk forever. What really killed it for me though, was the incredibly over the top ending. The elephants are made to look like a bunch of violent beasts which is so far from the truth, it's ridiculous. Ruth's husband John comes to save her in the end, and in an overly symbolic scene that slaps its viewer on the head, turns his back on the burning portrait of his father. Thus, the viewer is left to believe that John will suddenly change his selfish ways and love Ruth after all. So watch this movie with your own disbelief suspended. Oh yeah, and beware of those violent elephants. May 3, 2007

Brought back memories!!

I saw this movie when I was in school. I loved it then and I really enjoyed seeing it again. It is a great movie!! Has a great story to it. March 9, 2007

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